Picarreau (Jura) inaugurated the largest solar farm in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, built by CORSICA SOLE.
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Ribbon cutting ceremony at the inauguration of the Picarreau solar power plant, attended by Michael COUDYSER, Managing Director of CORSICA SOLE; Dominique PELLIN, Mayor of Picarreau; Danielle BRULEBOIS, Member of Parliament for Jura; Dominique BONNET, President of the Arbois Poligny Salins Coeur-du-Jura Community of Communes; Sylvie VERMEILLET, Senator for Jura; and Dominique CHALUMEAU, 1st Vice-President of the Jura Departmental Council.
On Thursday, 6 October 2022, the largest solar power plant in the Jura region was inaugurated in Picarreau.
Providing enough electricity to power 10,000 homes annually, equivalent to the population of the Lons-le-Saunier metropolitan area, the prefecture of the Jura department, the plant produces 29,800 MWh of electricity per year.
The Picarreau solar power plant project was initiated by Mr Dominique Pellin and the municipality of Picarreau. In 2016, CORSICA SOLE’s proposal for the development, construction and operation of the plant was selected following a call for projects. In 2019, the Picarreau Solar Farm was awarded the national tender by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).
The development of the solar farm was carried out in close collaboration with local and regional stakeholders. The project was designed to ensure that the plant complies with the high environmental quality requirements relating to heritage, landscape, soil, air and water quality, as stipulated by regulations.
Environmental constraints were taken into account from the project design stage. A particularly elaborate programme was put in place to preserve the biodiversity of fauna and flora, as well as to protect wooded areas. As part of this programme, 5,400 trees were planted on municipal land, fencing was adapted to allow small wildlife to move around freely, and hibernacula (wooden and rock nests) were created for reptiles. The land has been restored to pasture by the ONF (Office National des Forêts) to accommodate shepherds from neighbouring municipalities. Three educational kiosks have been set up on the edge of the site (the project, fauna and flora).
The Solar Farm was partly funded by the municipality of Picarreau, as well as by the inhabitants of the Jura department and neighbouring departments (Ain, Côte d’Or, Doubs, Haute-Saône and Saône-et-Loire).
Our community’s desire to invest in the energy transition gave rise to the Picarreau Solar Farm project in 2016,’ explains. Our Municipal Council drew up a comprehensive and binding set of specifications to ensure that the land, which had been lying fallow for many years, would become an economic and ecological asset for the region. Through determination, motivation and insight, our municipal team has overcome all the hurdles along a long and difficult path lasting more than six years. The result is a magnificent solar farm, which I recommend you discover through the three educational kiosks located along its perimeter.
